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The central celebration of “Danube Day” was marked by a series of activities in our capital city.
Through a clean-up of almost 2,000m of the Danube bank and a series of educational workshops and entertainment programs, the central celebration of “Danube Day” raised awareness of the importance of preservation of the most important European ecosystem.

29th June 2008, Belgrade – the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management – Republic Directorate for Water, PE ''Srbijavode'', the city of Belgrade in collaboration with Coca-Cola system celebrated the international “Danube Day” on Sunday, June 29th. The day dedicated to one of the most significant rivers in Europe was celebrated by numerous events and activities organized during morning hours at the Zemun quayside, and in the afternoon at Kalemegdan. In the Danube clean-up action, organized by  the Republic Directorate for Water of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Secretariat for Environment Protection, PE ''Srbijavode'' as well as competent utility services PE ''Zelenilo-Beograd'', PE ''Gradska čistoća'', PE Belgrade water and sewage system and with the help of  Coca-Cola volunteers and volunteers of National Office and Toyota,  almost 2,000m of the Danube bank was cleaned up with the aim to make the space more beautiful for numerous citizens spending their time there and raise awareness that everyone can contribute to the preservation of the Danube.

The morning celebration at the Zemun quayside in front of restaurant “Venice” was designed primarily for children. Cheerful children, among which the children with developmental disability from the association “Our Children”,  were entertained by the group of acrobats who introduced them to a series of art workshops through play and laughter. “Danube Day” as an event traditionally dedicated to education of the youngest population, was marked by a puppet show for children „Zunzara’s palace on the Danube“, as well as by workshops dedicated to the preservation of our waters and protection measures for the most important resource on our planet, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management – Republic Directorate for Water and Coca-Cola system.

The afternoon celebration on Kalemegdan started by the exhibition of old handcrafts as well as other art works. Visitors had an opportunity to see the exhibition „Serbia-Danube Basin“of a renowned artist – photographer Dragoljub Zamurović, who displayed his works inspired by the beauty he had encountered in the Danube basin. In addition, a modernist vision of young architects from Belgrade and Rome on the bank arrangement was presented through the exhibition «Cities, rivers, banks/Rome-Belgrade». On several Coca-Cola stands, workshops for children and youth were organized concerning the importance of recycling and the Danube preservation, and the visitors had an opportunity to make a tour around the Kalemegdan fortress every hour with the help of professional tour guides.

Dragana Milovanović, from the Republic Directorate for Water of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, on the Sava Plateau formally presented awards for the best works participating in the international children’s contest Danube Master Art. On this occasion, Mrs. Milovanović expressed gratitude to Coca-Cola system for persistent and long-term support and appealed to all citizens, companies, associations and others to treat the Danube responsibly, since it represents one of the most significant ecosystems in Europe.

All citizens who visited the celebration dedicated to raising awareness on the importance of the Danube preservation, had an opportunity to enjoy a music performance of ethno group „Gora“, as well as a concert performance of the philharmonic orchestra of young musicians „Borislav Paščan“ which in full complement performed the works inspired by the compositions about the Danube.

“Danube Day” represents an integral part of the cooperation of the Danube countries and is celebrated in all thirteen signatory countries of the Danube River Protection Convention in order to raise the awareness of many individuals on the river preservation of and to appeal for rational exploitation of water resources. “Danube Day” is as a campaign becoming more extensive, with the participation of increasing number of partners who are making great efforts to make our Danube more beautiful and cleaner.